242 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



"There was a ripping, grinding sound and 

 the sod about the base began to heave; stub- 

 bornly the tenacious roots fought against sur- 

 rendering the burden that they had supported 

 for so many years. The five tons of flesh and 

 bones were more than a match for them, how- 

 ever, and slowly the tree began to descend. In- 

 stead of toppling over with a crash, the sinewy 

 tentacles eased its fall so gently that we were 

 given an opportunity to adjust our positions and 

 prepare for the worst. 



"Even after the tree had attained an angle of 

 forty-five degrees, we stood on the trunk and 

 clung to the now almost perpendicular branches. 

 The elephant must have thought that it was 

 going over; she backed away for a second but, 

 seeing her mistake, again began to push, and 

 this time the tree slowly went down. 



"As it struck the ground, the sudden loosen- 

 ing of the roots on one side caused it to roll 

 slightly which threw the gun bearer to the un- 

 derside and buried him beneath the branches. 

 At the same time I was brought to an upright 

 position and, jumping to the ground, started for 

 the small patch of bushes in which Kongoni 

 had first sought shelter. 



"If I could only gain possession of the rifle 



